Horse Health

Comment

Comment by Tracy McDermott on June 22, 2010 at 11:36pm

Vickie: Only the human race has the quality of mercy. When there are no lateral alternatives to give an animal peace is the ultimate gift. If your daughter is present when the horse is put down she will never be afraid of it again, there is instant peace and highly preferable to thrashing around unable to stand up.

Comment by vickie lawson on June 22, 2010 at 10:27pm

we did the bloods and it definitely is cushings. we have her on chaste tree berry extract, but i have noticed a real decline this week. she isn't holding her weight well. she is on a commercial old horse extruded feed and i have increased it but don't have high hopes of success. i need to get my daughter to see that sometimes the kindest thing is to let them go.

Comment by Tracy McDermott on June 22, 2010 at 8:59pm

Vickie: Be sure that Cushings Disease has been diagnosed. It is a tumor on the pituitary gland in the brain. You must have blood drawn to determine if it is Cushings and not EMD, Equine Metabolic Disorder, or pre-diabetes in horses. Cushings can be slow to develop but not stopped, EMD can be stopped.

Comment by Tracy McDermott on June 22, 2010 at 8:54pm

Jeanne: You need to have an ultrasound of the tendon to determine if it is torn or detached. Detached it can be surgically re-attached, torn (?% of tear) it takes a long time and bi- monthly ultrasound. It is very painful so don't go working the horse to see just how bad it is. Stall rest or paddock without excitement, anti- inflammatory soak (epsom salts, dmso, warm water hydrotherapy -just rubbing then linament) keep the weight down, hand walk every day, no trot just walk. Use a vet that treats either endurance or sport horse injuries.

Comment by vickie lawson on June 22, 2010 at 7:59pm

i recall from vets that this injury is a serious one and will take a lot longer, if it heals completely.... best of luck.

Comment by Jeanne Aiblinger on June 21, 2010 at 6:55pm

Hi. Can anyone tell me what to for an injured inner flexor tendon on the front leg of my. So far I have been told rest is what the horse needs and it has been nearly three months. Some days she is fine and on other days she is lame. When she is lame she keeps her foot slightly forward so as to not put pressure on the back of the hoof. There is no swelling and she is not very sensitive to the touch. Is there a cure?

Comment by vickie lawson on May 4, 2010 at 5:52am

where will i find the most up to date info on treatment of cushing't . thanks.